Thoughts from a Canuck

2006.04.03

Banu Quraiza or How the Prophet Muhammed Momentarily Forgot the Peaceful Nature of Islam

When the tribe of Bani Quraiza was ready to accept Sad's judgment, Allah's Apostle sent for Sad who was near to him. Sad came, riding a donkey and when he came near, Allah's Apostle said (to the Ansar), "Stand up for your leader." Then Sad came and sat beside Allah's Apostle who said to him. "These people are ready to accept your judgment." Sad said, "I give the judgment that their warriors should be killed and their children and women should be taken as prisoners." The Prophet then remarked, "O Sad! You have judged amongst them with (or similar to) the judgment of the King Allah."

The Prophet Muhammed was glad because of Sad. A more detailed look at this event follows.

1. After the Battle of the Trench, the Prophet Muhammed was enjoying a bath. Suddenly, the angel Gabriel appeared and told him that the Battle was not yet over. Muhammed had to fight the tribe of Banu Quraiza.

2. After almost a month-long siege, the Prophet Muhammed proposed that Banu Quraiza accept the judgment of a man named Sad bin Muadh. Sad offered a simple final solution: Behead every single postpubescent male of the tribe--approximately 600-800 males; take all the females as slaves; divide up their property among the Muslims who accompanied the Prophet.

A silken cloth was given as a present to the Prophet. His companions started touching it and admiring its softness. The Prophet said, "Are you admiring its softness? The handkerchiefs of Sad bin Muadh (in Paradise) are better and softer than it."

Sad, the man who proposed the death of an entire helpless tribe, has a place reserved in Paradise.

4. The Prophet Muhammed had clashed with two similar tribes earlier--Banu Qaynuqa and Banu Al-Nadir. However, in their case, the Prophet let them go into exile. Why? Here's the answer:

All three tribes are accused of breaking their treaties. If Muhammad would have acted on the basis of law from God he would have judged them consistently. We see that "circumstances" played a much more important role in determining the punishment for these tribes. If it was right to let them go, why did he not let the Banu Qurayza go into exile? If it was right to execute them, why did he give in to `Abdullah b. Ubayy b. Salul and let him prevent the execution of the judgment of God? No true prophet would give in to a misguided companion who wants to stop God's righteous decree. This inconsistency shows that Muhammad was guided chiefly by his own desires of vengeance against those who would not accept him as a messenger from God rather than by a law of consistent justice as it comes from God. The judgement is about offending Muhammad, not about offending God, and Muhammad decided according to expediency.

5. Banu Qurayza was a Jewish tribe.

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Muslims are taught from an early age that the Prophet Muhammed is an infallible example for mankind till the end of time. There is zero tolerance for anyone who dares to say otherwise. Muslim-majority nations have legislation on the books--blasphemy laws--that accord horrific punishments for those who merely question the actions of the Prophet Muhammed.

Use of derogatory remarks, etc. in respect of the Holy Prophet. Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.

It is important to note that, in the eyes of Islamic nations, such laws should not be constrained by geographical boundaries. Recently, the most famous example of this "universal blasphemy decree" was the 1989 fatwa by Ayatollah Khomeini calling for the death of Salman Rushdie. The Iranian regime has continually reiterated the call for Rushdie's death.

Today, the Cartoon Riots have surpassed the Rushdie Affair in terms of body count. More than 135 people have been killed. Wikipedia:

Deaths have been mainly in Nigeria, Libya, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

It is vitally important that the West not put Islam or any other religion off-limits to critical analysis. For only in the West can a person safely write that the obliteration of a Jewish tribe, the taking of sex-slaves, and the confiscation of non-Muslim property is something not to be celebrated and emulated.